inspection; but these are, comparatively, very few in number.

It is only in wealthy localities, or where the population is large, that school managers are able to meet the extravagant demands of the Education Committee. In poor and small districts, it is altogether impossible to keep pace with the rules which "my lords" are continually making. The consequence is that those schools which stand most in need of help are those very schools which do not get it; while those which can give high salaries, and could get on really well without extraneous support, come in for the lion's share.

It would seem, from the annual reports, that the school fees are lowest in those schools which are not in the receipt of Government grants: therefore, the Government system does not, at any rate, cheapen education. In fact, the whole system is extravagant, the expenditure wasteful, the administration dictatorial, and all the requirements unreasonable. We know an instance where some trifling alterations were required the whole cost might be about ten pounds, and a grant of five would have been very acceptable. But, no the matter was too small to be seen by the eyes of the central body. The reply to the application was virtually to this effect-Pull down and build up, and make it worth our notice make it forty pounds, and we will give half. The school managers, much to their credit, determined to do without help rather than

:

waste the public money on what was altogether unnecessary. We expect the parson put his shoulder to the wheel, but red-tapism was for the nonce superseded. Poor John Bull! So proud of his institutions so shrewd and wide awake-always putting his hand in his pocket, seldom for good, often for ill; but ever fated to see, extravagantly wasted, that which he so grudgingly pays!

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES FOR

nation.

HOLY ORDERS.

['Union,' September 28, 1860.]

HE usual course pursued by Bishops, with regard to candidates for Holy Orders, is to require a personal interview about three months before the day fixed for the OrdiThis is useful in two ways. The Bishop gains some little insight into the mind and character of the candidate; and the candidate receives some good advice, together with an outline of the approaching examination. The Bishop of Rochester does not seem to have adopted this plan : he requests candidates to apply to his chaplain; and publishes-not for them only, but for all the world-the exact quantity and quality of the meagre knowledge he requires of those who seek ordination at his hands. This may be only to save trouble; but we may be pardoned for saying it looks very like ostentation, when we see "Instructions to candidates for Ordination in regard to their examination," not only in the Ecclesiastical Gazette,

but in all the daily and weekly papers. If these in-
structions formed a well-written and concise outline
of theology, there might be something imposing in
such a publication; but, as they are the very opposite
of all this, it can only serve to bring the examination
into contempt.
For we have rarely met with so

miserable a composition.

English grammar is not generally taught in our great public schools; but then a fair acquaintance with the Latin tongue affords a better knowledge of the principles of grammar than a mere study of Lindley Murray. The Bishop of Rochester's instructions do not, however, show much progress in the art of writing plainly and correctly: they might almost be taken for orthographical exercises-not for the candidates we hope we should protest against any such insinuation. They might be of more use in the parish school. The commencement is very well :-"Candidates for Ordination are requested to bear in mind that the object of the examination will be to ascertain their acquaintance with the subjects specially needed for the duties of their holy calling, rather than with the contents of any particular books." Very good and very true; but it surely needed not Bishop at five thousand a year, to tell the world this. We will therefore pass this, and now ask the second class to put into plain English the next sentence-" For this reason but few books are recommended for their guidance; and those in the following statement are specified, as generally treating

a

of those subjects on which information is required, not as being themselves the subject-matter of examination." Or this, which has a genuine puritanical twang"The Old Testament, historically and doctrinally, and especially in its connection with the New Testament." Now, boy, what word should be left out? The word in, sir. Or this, which shows that the writer knows little about the construction of a sentence-"The evidences of Christianity; as treated by Paley (including the Horæ Paulinæ), Archbishop Sumner, and as deducible from Bishop Butler's Analogy." Or this longwinded paragraph of one sentence-"In the study of the books here mentioned, or of others of a similar kind, candidates should seek to store their minds with the subjects treated, and the principles developed by the writers, as to show themselves able to teach others, by setting forth the substance and evidence of revealed truth, and applying it to the actual wants of human nature, and, in regard to our own Church, by thoroughly understanding its position and scriptural character in respect of doctrine and polity." We are out of breath, but must haste to the conclusion:-"N.B.For all legal information, forms to be observed, documents to be produced, in order to Ordination or other diocesan business, the clergy and the candidates for Orders will be pleased to apply to Messrs.." They may be pleased to apply; whether they will be equally pleased when they pay the fees is another question. The other diocesan business seems superfluous in in